AMC's contractual health staff demands immediate release of three months honorarium

Aurangabad, June 25:

An air of disappointment has prevailed amongst the Covid Warriors as they are forced to perform their duties without honorarium for the last three months. The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) undertook various measures to prevent the spreading of Coronavirus in the city during the past one and a half years. Hence, the health section made recruitment in large numbers on a contractual basis (for a temporary period) in various capacities to overcome the pandemic situation.

The state government grants funds to the AMC to control the Covid-19 pandemic situation in the city. Accordingly, the AMC pays the honorarium of these employees and personnel. However, the civic administration has not received the fund from the government. As a result, it could not pay the honorarium. Meanwhile, the AMC has already submitted a demand of granting Rs 68 crore to meet various expenses, apart from pending bills of Rs 8 crore, to the district administration.

Due to the absence of an honorarium for the past three months, this health personnel mentioned facing severe financial inconvenience due to the absence of their wages. It may be noted that as soon as the threat of the second wave of Covid-19 got mild, the AMC reduced some staff. The AMC administrator A K Pandey, however, reviewing the possible threat of third-wave situation, ordered to continue their services till August 2021.

The municipal officer of health (MoH) Dr. Neeta Padalkar said, " The honorarium is released from the funds received by the government. This system is being followed for the past one and a half years. The AMC could not release honorarium from its fund. Hence we had demanded to release the fund for essential works as well. We are hoping to receive the fund soon."

According to a contractual employee, the AMC made the recruitment in large numbers during the first wave and the second wave. We had not received our honorarium on time till today. We are facing severe financial problems at our homes due to delays in getting our due wages.

Adds a contractual doctor, " Initially, nobody was ready to work in Covid wards during the pandemic situation. We risked our lives at that time and worked for AMC on a contractual basis. We are working with loyalty and I feel the AMC should recruit us, contract employees, on a permanent basis."

Explains a contractual nurse, " We were removed from the job as soon as the Covid-19 wave was over. We will not get suitable jobs anywhere. The payment in private hospitals is very less. A total of 90 personnel working in Coronavirus are contractual staff. As an acknowledgment of our services, the AMC should think about absorbing us into civic services. Kindly release our honorarium soon."

It is learnt that the AMC has recruited 750 personnel in various capacities in the health section. Out of which, 27 personnel had been removed and 723 are rendering their services.